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Rhode Island Hospital in Providence is launching a pilot program that will examine the effectiveness of Google Glass in the emergency department. During the six-month initiative, the tool will be used by ED doctors to allow patients to have real-time video consultations with a dermatologist. "Ultimately, the use of this technology could result in better coordinated care, faster interventions, better outcomes, fewer follow-up office visits, fewer readmissions and lower costs for a wide range of disciplines, not just dermatology," said Dr. Paul Porter, an ED physician at Rhode Island Hospital.

Emergency department doctors at Rhode Island Hospital are using Google Glass to capture images of patients' skin conditions and transmit encrypted audio and video to dermatologists for analysis and advice. The version of Google Glass being used in the study is not connected to the Internet and does not store images, video or audio.

A partnership has been formed between JFK Medical Center and Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey to establish an accountable care organization that will benefit Horizon clients. The ACO will launch on April 1. "This collaborative agreement with JFK is another important step in transforming the health care system in New Jersey with an eye toward delivering better patient care while containing costs," said Jim Albano of Horizon BCBSNJ.

GE Healthcare has introduced its GE Blueprint software at North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System with the goal of assisting providers in combining information analysis, technology and process improvements to lessen CT radiation dose by half. "GE has provided low-dose solutions for more than 30 years, and the GE Blueprint for low dose furthers our healthymagination vision of improving the cost, quality and access of health care," said GE Chairman and CEO Jeffrey Immelt.

CMS in January will expand access to online Medicare health records in Arizona and Utah to advance the use of health IT. Patients will be able to add data to their health records, which will contain up to two years of Medicare data, and can share the records with their health care providers. HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt said the pilot will help empower people to manage their health.